Pact inked over biotech park at Arunachal Pradesh

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed recently between Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science and Technology (APSC S&T) and Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL), New Delhi for consultancy services towards establishment of a Biotechnology Park at Kimin under the National Biotechnology Park Scheme of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

The MoA was signed by Managing Director cum CEO, BCIL Dr Purnima Sharma and Director cum Member Secretary APSC S&T CD Mungyak in the presence of Chairman, APSC S&T Bamang Mangha and others.

BCIL is a company promoted by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India and the All-India Financial Institutions for facilitating commercialization of biotechnology by promoting value-added business support services.

BCIL also acts as a bridge between the research institutes and industries to facilitate commercialization of biotechnologies.

Keeping in view the potential of the State for attracting investments in biotechnology-related industries and scaling up the activities related to biotechnology in the State, APSC S&T, Department of Science & Technology and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh has approached BCIL, which has vast experience and expertise in this area, for preparing a detailed project report for setting up of a Biotech Park in the State.

DBT-APSC S&T scientist Sanjeeb Kalita gave a brief presentation on the goals and aspirations of the centre as well as insights into ongoing key projects.

The presentation also manifested into a discussion where delegates from BCIL gave their inputs on the kind of consultancy service they can provide, ranging from stress areas on IPR protection, training programmes, technology transfer and industry collaboration for market penetration.

Highlighting various training programmes being conducted by DBT-APSC S&T Centre of Excellence for Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Kimin on skill development and self-employment, Project Director Dr Debajit Mahanta requested the BCIL team to facilitate placement services for students after the training and to provide proper guidance on preparation of feasibility studies, detailed project reports, market surveys for setting up of biotechnology based entrepreneurial start ups, ventures in the State.

Dr Purnima Sharma also spoke on the beneficial role the collaboration can play in transforming the economic scenario of the State. She also highlighted the need to produce robust designs, world class concepts and products so that the collaboration becomes fruitful and garners industrial attention.

Meanwhile, Chairman, APSCS&T Bamang Mangha highlighted the journey from project conceptualisation to implementation of the DBT-APSCS&T CoE for BRSD at Kimin.

Stressing on the need for a technological hub in the State, he emphasized on setting up of Biotechnology Park as apparent so that the products developed can manifest into marketable commodities.

He also spoke on the unemployment burden that the collaboration can ease for the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as entrepreneurship boost which will alleviate livelihood issues of the rural population.

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